KAHUKU — Shaking off a week's worth of off-field controversy and turmoil, the Kahuku High School football team last night did what it has always done at home for the past eight years:

Win.

The defending state champion Red Raiders powered past Farrington, 27-7, to improve to 4-2 overall and remain unbeaten in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division at 4-0.

Kahuku, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, has not lost at home since losing to Service (Anchorage, Alaska) in 1999.

Last night, the Red Raiders had to overcome not only the No. 9-ranked Governors (3-2-1, 3-1) but also a cloud of off-field turmoil that climaxed Thursday night with a meeting between head coach Reggie Torres, principal Lisa DeLong, athletic director Joe Whitford and members of the community.

Despite guiding Kahuku to a state title in his first season at the helm last year, Torres has been under scrutiny almost since the day he was hired in April of 2006. An unabashed group of parents and fans have privately and publicly expressed displeasure with Torres' coaching style and philosophy.

The team held a players-only meeting earlier in the week, and a petition was circulated among the community asking the administration to have him replaced.

"It's disheartening," Torres said after the game. "It's sad."

But he added that some issues were resolved in Thursday's meeting, and the team appeared to put the distractions aside once the game started.

The Red Raiders struck first with 4:42 remaining in the first quarter on Jray Galeai's 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Junior Mata'afa. The extra point attempt was blocked, but they went up 13-0 after Galeai's 24-yard TD pass to Paipai Falemalu, a linebacker who lined up at wideout for the first time.

"This week was pretty hectic, but the seniors and the captains took charge," said Falemalu, one of several senior captains. "We told everybody to erase everything else, don't worry about it and just focus on the game. We just went out an did what we had to do to win."

Farrington closed it to 13-7 with seven seconds left in the half on Alefosiu Iu's 25-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Fernandez, but Kahuku extended the lead to 20-7 on Galeai's 23-yard TD pass to Willie Ching midway through the third quarter.

The Red Raiders sealed the victory when linebacker Coleson Pukahi intercepted a pass at the Govs' 2-yard line and ran it in with 2:22 remaining in the game.

FARRINGTON (3-2-1, 3-1) 0 7 0 0 — 7

KAHUKU (4-2, 4-0) 6 7 7 7 — 27

Kah — Junior Mata'afa 11 pass from Jray Galeai (kick blocked)

Kah — Paipai Falemalu 24 pass from Galeai (St. John Lessary kick)

Farr — Joshua Fernandez 25 pass from Alefosiu Iu (Apelu So'oalo kick)

Kah — Willie Ching 23 pass from Galeai (Lessary kick)

Kah — Coleson Pukahi 2 interception return (Lessary kick)

RUSHING — Farrington: Fernandez 9-25, Iu 7-(minus-21), Anthony Noga 1-0, Dayton Kealoha 3-13. Kahuku: Lessary 10-118, Kaliki Unga 11-54, Galeai 1-1, Mata'afa 4-27, Wesley Touli 1-2, AJ Atuaia 1-3, Noble Crowell 2-6.

PASSING — Farrington: Iu 16-27-1—178, Kealoha 1-5-0—9. Kahuku: Galeai 5-10-2—118, Nalu Carvalho 0-1-0—0, Samson Manu-Olevao 1-2-1—6.

RECEIVING — Farrington: Ani Isumu 5-63, Fernandez 7-86, Faifaiese Emosi 4-28, Matt Stowers 1-10. Kahuku: Mata'afa 2-34, Falemalu 1-24, Willie Ching 2-60, Jordan Mohetau 1-6.

JV score: Kahuku 22, Farrington 16

KAILUA 28, KALAHEO 12

Kale Sumner completed 5 of 6 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns — 7 yards to Kapena Alameida and 76 yards to Jackie Uyemoto — to lead the host Surfriders over the Mustangs in an OIA Red East game.

Brandon Adviento rushed for 109 yards, including a 5-yard TD run for Kailua.

Cody Von Appen ran for one TD and passed for another for Kalaheo.

KALAHEO (4-3, 2-3) 0 6 0 6—12

KAILUA (2-5, 2-3) 7 7 7 7—28

Kail — Kapena Alameida 7 from Kale Sumner (Eddie Oden kick)

Kalh — Cody Von Appen 1 run (kick failed)

Kail — Brandon Adviento 5 run (Oden kick)

Kail — Jackie Uyemoto 76 pass from Sumner (Oden kick)

Kail— Kaleo Wong 9 run (Oden kick)

Kalh — Von Appen 5 run (pass failed)

RUSHING — Kalaheo: Phil Tauai 3-12, Von Appen 10-45, Larry Soto 13-44. Kailua: Adviento 21-109, Wong 13-56, Kenny Ellis 1-12, Bubu Naki 4-17, Sumner 3-1.

PASSING — Kalaheo: Von Appen 10-18-1-137. Kailua: Ellis 1-2-0-6, Sumner 5-6-0-140.

RECEIVING — Kalaheo: Keano Bruhn 2-53, Soto 1-2, Bruce Andrews 5-37, Kao Malama-Custer 1-35, Tauai 1-10. Kailua: Wong 1-6, Alameida 1-7, Ellis 1-6, Billy Oden 1-22, Jackie Uyemoto 2-105.

JV score — Kalaheo 25, Kailua 20

Reported by Tanya Hewahewa

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.